Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Pleaded Causes and Redeemed Lamentations 3:58

After crying out in the dungeon, Jeremiah acknowledged that God heard his prayer and told him to “fear not”. In chapter three and verse fifty-eight of Lamentations we see more of the Lord's answer to Jeremiah where we read:

O Lord, you have pleaded the causes of my soul; you have redeemed my life.

The verse begins, “O Lord, you have pleaded the causes of my soul;” As Jeremiah recognized the Lord's answer to his prayer, he said He “pleaded” which means “to strive, contend with or make a case or suit in support for” “the causes of my soul”. These causes contained “strife, controversy, disputes, quarrels, or a case at law” for Jeremiah, and as a great attorney or adversary the Lord was advocating for him.

The verse goes on to say, “you have redeemed my life.” Jeremiah adds that the Lord “redeemed” which means “to redeem, act as kinsman-redeemer, avenge, revenge, ransom, do the part of a kinsman, to buy back” his “life”. Jeremiah knew that his very “life” was not only defended by God but also ransomed and redeemed by Almighty God.

As we think about this verse, let us note who receives the glory and credit. It was the “Lord” who pleaded. It was the “Lord” who redeemed. Like a great attorney God Almighty came to Jeremiah's aid, and He will also come to ours. He knows our life. He created and made us, and He knows how to plead our case. He knows how to redeem our souls, and as the great kinsman-redeemer, Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price for any sin and failings we incur in this life. As we meditate upon these things, let us be conscious of the words of the writer of Hebrews who wrote in chapter seven and verse twenty-five:

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them.

And let us observe the words of Paul the apostle in Romans chapter eight and verse thirty-four:

Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died, yes rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

May we thank God for Jesus Christ our Mighty and Holy advocate.

Next time we see Jeremiah appealing to God to see his wrong, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
 
Until tomorrow...there is more...
 
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore




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